If enough people do not bid for CDG/HKG, how will the inverse assignments work?
Inversing pilots permanently into an FDA is not allowed by the CBA. If the vacancies are not bid by crewmembers on the property, then new hires would be the only option available, short of canceling the FDA. The STV option was established for flexibility so that if crewmembers exit training late (training problems, simulator problems, etc.), if the aircraft arrive early (right!), or aircraft utilization is increased initially, we could still man the flight schedule. However, long term relief by use of the STV program is not an acceptable option.

I think the company may have more of a problem hiring into FDAs than they think. Lots of buds coming up for retirement this and next year, and not one has said he'd be willing to move to HKG or CDG for this job. Or should I say their wives are less than enthusiastic. Especially with other airlines beginning to hire.

Management forgets that prior to 9/11 no one wanted the FDX job. It may be more attractive now, but a weak union, schedules that are getting more optimized each month, and trying to live in CDG on peanuts for the first year or two will not get us a lot of volunteers.